The HD Peace Walker folds into the larger Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, which the publisher confirmed earlier this month for a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 release. The set will be coming as early as this fall and no later than spring 2012. You’ll get the second and third Metal Gear Solid games plus Peace Walker in one box. The original game in the Solid series isn’t included because it was released for the first-gen PlayStation in 1998; the visuals on such an old title will need more than an HD facelift to match the other three included games in terms of quality.

Konami had a hands-on station set up for Peace Walker on the E3 show floor. You probably won’t notice much of a difference if you played the original release on the PSP. The environments look a little sharper and the character models pop a bit more, but HD makeover remakes like this will never compete with the latest releases.

Peace Walker stands apart from most of the other games in the series with gameplay that was clearly designed for a portable experience. MGS games are synonymous with lengthy cutscenes and endless reams of exposition, but the PSP game goes instead for bite-sized missions, the sort of thing you could sit down and play for 20-30 minutes and feel that actual progress was made.

In addition to Peace Walker’s long list of on the ground stealth and combat missions, Peace Walker also brings a beefy metagame in which you build your private army. The play may be designed for shorter bursts, but there’s a lot of game here. It should work well in a console port.

The big surprise, of course, is that the traditionally PlayStation-exclusive series is coming to Xbox 360 with this HD port. That’s the version we played at E3, and it ought to be said…the controls don’t feel quite right on an Xbox gamepad. It’s probably the sort of thing you’d just get used to, as MGS is known for having a complex set of controls anyway, but it’s jarring to pull the left trigger on a 360 gamepad and see an inventory menu pop up. The Peace Walker on the show floor was apparently an early build too, as crouched Snake couldn’t quite make up his mind about whether he wanted to creep slowly or duck-walk quickly as he moved around.

A PS3/X360 release also means one other thing: Trophies and Achievements! Peace Walker and the other two games included in the HD collection will have them. More exciting than that, just like the portable release, Peace Walker will continue to support online co-op play for up to four players. The later part of the game features some giant bosses that pretty much require multiple players. Being able to find those partners over the PlayStation Network will be a lot easier that contending with the PSP’s online capabilities for that game.

There’s not much else to say about Peace Walker, which is the only game from the collection that was being shown at E3. It’s the PSP game from last year with an HD makeover and proper console controls.

Makes no sense to remake Peace Walker when its graphics are pretty much near MGS4 quality. Sorry Kojima I don't want to face those insanely tough bosses again in an "HD" version of the game.

Where's the transfarring? I put like 200 hours into my current PSP Peace Walker I'm NOT doing it again. Plus you told me I could transfar between PS2 and PS3 eventually, so I own better versions of MGS2 and 3 (substance and subsistance).

And I think it'd be awesome if he remade Metal Gear 1 and 2. Put more story in, better graphics, etc.

He should've remade Portable Ops instead. I heard its online play was fantastic and I love the gameplay and story more than Peace Walker personally.

BRING BACK MGS3 ONLINE! I didn't get to play it :(. I'm eager to see an HD MGS2 and 3 though!

Is there gonna be a standalone HD PeaceWalker? Not that I don't like the other games there....but if I can get the one I don't have for cheaper....makes more sense then paying for a collection....especially if the collection really is just the base games...

If it were to include substance, subsistance and and similar content for Peace Walker....that may be different...

I figure Twin Snakes omission is probably due to the nintendo element there....not to mention that while it's a great game and provides the same story....it doesn't quite fit right next to the others.... like that Hannibal collection with Anthony Hopkins on the cover that includes Manhunter instead of Red Dragon.....it'd just be weird...

that being said...it's a collection for god sakes....no one is expecting MGS to look like MGSIV ...toss it in anyway along with the VR missions and some other stuff....the fact that it wouldn't fit in visually is a bit of a crock...I mean...there was that whole flashback sequence in MGSIV....didn't seem to bother anyone....perhaps a voucher to download it off the PSN instead....

Of course I always want more for my money....The other PSP games for example....and perhaps some of the MGO DLC?

While I am ranting and raving....I realize that wishing for the moon...doesn't diminish the awesomeness of being awarded an Island instead....just saying...would be nice.

In remake territory....should note that it's high time for MG and MG2 to get some spotlight...

I SURE HOPE SOO!! lol I'm A HUGE Fan And Will Buy This For Both My Xbox and ps3!! If It Gets Sold Out.... You Can Blame ME For That!! lol Ohh And Of Course My Many Hardcore Friends Who Are Also HARDCORE MGS Fans... ^/_\^